No. 407 LIBRARY July 1. 1959
INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
AGRICULTURAL ESTIMATES DIVISION
COOPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
Indiana's first 300 million bushel corn crop was in prospect July 1 while the production
of other crops is expected to be less than last year largely because of smaller acreages
for harvest. June weather was generally favorable for field work and farmers completed
corn and soybean planting near the usual time. Replanting this year has been a minimum
in contrast with 1958 and 1957 when June precipitation was excessive.
Corn production is forecast at a record 365,820,000 bushels. The acreage for harvest
at 5,460,000 acres is 24 percent larger than last year and is the largest in the state since
1917. The expected yield of 67.0 bushels per acre, as based upon July conditions, exceeds
the previous record of 63.0 bushels for the 1958 crop. The crop on July 1 was uniformly
of good color and was generally free of weeds and grass. Corn stocks on farms July 1
totaled 74,952,000 bushels as compared with 79,711,000 bushels a year earlier and the
10-year (1948-57) average of 75,804,000 bushels.
Wheat production expected to total 35,670,000 bushels or 13 percent less than last
year. The 1,230,000 acres harvested is 4 percent smaller than last year while the yield
of 29.0 bushels per acre is below last year's record of 32.0 but above the 10-year (1948-57)
average of 24.8 bushels. Numerous wheat fields in the north were damaged during the
past winter by ice and water, and some fields in the south were heaved. Stocks of old
wheat on farms July 1 totaled 205,000 bushels as compared with 163,000 bushels a year
ago and the 10-year average of 633,000 bushels.
This year's oat production is forecast at 32,042,000 bushels or 30 percent less than
last year and 35 percent below average. Yields vary rather widely and are expected to
average 37.0 bushels as compared with last year's 51.0 bushels and the 10-year average
of 39.6. The crop this year was rather widely infected with Red Leaf disease. The 1959
acreage for harvest at 866,000 acres is the smallest in 73 years and is 4 percent below
last year and 31 percent below average. Stocks of oats on farms July 1 totaled 6,900,000
bushels as compared with 4,530,000 bushels a year ago and the 10-year average of
6,385,000 bushels.
This year's acreage of soybeans for all purposes is estimated at 2,228,000 acres of
which 2,183,000 acres are expected to be harvested for beans. This is 1 percent below
the 1958 acreage harvested but 21 percent above average. The first forecast of soybean
production will be made as of August 1. Stocks of old soybeans on farms totaled
3,214,000 bushels as compared with 2,397,000 bushels July 1,1958 and the 10-year average
of 1,690,000 bushels.
Hay production in 1959 is expected to total 2,393,000 tons. This is 2 percent below last
year and 10 percent below average. Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures comprise 51 percent
of this year's production as compared with 53 percent last year. Weather has been
better for curing hay than last year. Pasture conditions July 1 averaged 90 percent as
compared with 94 percent this time last year.
Commercial apple production is expected to total 1,600,000 bushels, or 2 percent less
than 1958 but 12 percent more than average. Peach production at 344,000 bushels is
31 percent below last year and 8 percent below average.
June egg production of 195 million eggs was 2 percent less than last year. The number of June layers at 10,539,000 is 3 percent smaller than last year. The rate of lay per
100 layers was 1,851 eggs as compared with 1,815 eggs a year earlier.
Milk production in June totaled 346 million pounds and was 3 percent smaller than
the 355 million pounds produced in June 1958. Production per cow was at a near record
nigh for the month.
UNITED STATES
Total crop production second only to last year's phenomenal record now seems likely
'or 1959. Planted acreage of 340 million is above 1957 and 1958 but well below other
recent years. It now appears that the harvested acreage for all crops will total 325
million, slightly above the low levels of the past 3 years, but smaller than other years
since 1939. Crop development up to July has been mainly favorable but top soil moisture